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SENATE EDUCATIO N CO MMITTEE

FEBRUA RY 7 , 2019

Special Education in Texas

Special Education Enrollment Trends

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• Historically, Texas has identified fewer students than the national average

• Gap in identifying students has widened since 2004

• Students may not be receiving necessary services to benefit their learning

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➢ Students with disabilities continue to lag behind their peers in graduation

➢ During the past 10 years, gap in graduation widened from ~10% to ~12

Four-Year Graduation Rates

72.0%

74.0%

76.0%

78.0%

80.0%

82.0%

84.0%

86.0%

88.0%

90.0%

2015 2016

4-Year Graduation Rates

Special Education Non Special Education

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• 2017 STAAR results show students with disabilities achieve significantly lower across all disability types than peers

• Reading and Math achievement are the best indicators of 4-year graduation and post-high school success

Achievement Gap for Students with Disabilities

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Math Reading

STAAR Results (2017) – Met Grade Level

Special Education Overall

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• Students with disabilities are significantly behind their peers in college readiness

• Represents gap in long term opportunities for students with disabilities compared to non-disabled peers

Opportunity Gap Persists

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

College Readiness

College- and Career-Ready Graduates (2015-2016)

Special Education Overall

Improving Opportunities & Outcomes:

TEA Strategic Plan for Improving Special Education

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Publicly available at https://tea.texas.gov/TexasSPED

Student, Family and Community Engagement

Networks and

Structures

State MonitoringTraining, Supportand Development

Identification, Evaluation andPlacement

Strategic Plan & Corrective Action Response

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Strategic Plan: Monitoring

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Expand team by approximately 50 FTEs, paid for by IDEA-B Discretionary

• Desk reviews and on-site visits

• Include a detailed planning process with significant stakeholder engagement

Review & Support

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Focus on improved outcomes, not just compliance

• Include easily searchable published reports

• All review materials will be accessible to LEAs

• Additional data elements added to PEIMS/TSDS for enhanced monitoring

R&S Monitoring

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Individualized Parent Contact• Require LEAs to notify parents of

available programs

• Specific to parents of students most likely to benefit from special education

Outreach Campaign • Increased general effort to reach out to

parents of special needs children across Texas

• Increased knowledge of opportunities to serve students better

Improved Guidance & Training• Update technical assistance and

guidance for LEAs

• Clarity on general information regarding Response to Intervention (RTI), 504, Dyslexia

Complaints & Dispute Resolution• Enhanced training for parents on

complaints process, options, and rights

• Streamlined resources for parents with questions or who need support

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Strategic Plan: Identification, Evaluation, and Placement (Child Find & FAPE)

Strategic Plan: Identification, Evaluation, and Placement (Child Find & FAPE)

TEA Evaluation Capacity Support:

Due to under-identification of students eligible for special education services, TEA responded to potential LEA needs in evaluating students requiring service:

➢ $10 million is set aside ($8M for 2018-19 and $2M for 2019-20 school years) to assist LEAs across the state with any unexpected increase in the number of Full Initial Evaluations (FIEs) requested by Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committees

➢ A grant has been awarded to ESC Region 20 to facilitate the distribution of these funds. More information can be found at this link:

https://projects.esc20.net/page/eval.home

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Strategic Plan: Training, Support, & Development

EvaluationCapacity

TEA is facilitating more cross-district resource sharing and working to recruit new professionals.

Assists LEAs in having enough resources to identify students eligible for special education services

Enhances access of students to interventions that will aid in their learning

Professional Development

TEA will launch special education training for best practices in identifying, providing services to, and instructing students with disabilities.

Enhances the ability of LEAs to serve students with disabilities in a more effective manner

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Strategic Plan: Training, Support, & Development

Resource Development – TEA will release a suite of resources intended to help educators and parents better understand the differences between RTI, Dyslexia, Section 504, and IDEA.

➢ Aids educators in following correct guidelines and providing appropriate services for students

➢ Allows parents to be more aware of their rights and options

Dyslexia – The State Board of Education (SBOE), has revised and updated the Texas Dyslexia Handbook and additional training resources for teachers on proper dyslexia practices will be provided.

➢ Provides more in-school support to students with dyslexia

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Strategic Plan: Training, Support, & Development

Work with State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to improve teacher certification practices, specifically in relation to special education and dyslexia

CERTIFICATION

Enhance school board training to improve local monitoring and increase fidelity of implementationGOVERNANCE

Continue working with Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and other workforce stakeholders to improve supports for students with disabilities transitioning into the workforce

STATEWIDEPARTNERSHIPS

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Strategic Plan: Student, Family, & Community Engagement

Family Support Call Center, Portal, and Resources:

TEA will develop resources that inform and educate parents about available and appropriate special education services using the following methods:

Paper- and web-based products in multiple languages

Clarification of Section 504, Dyslexia, and RTI

Clear definition of eligibility and Child Find process

Enhanced call center and interactive online services

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TEA is redesigning and providing grant opportunities to enhance technical assistance networks into the following areas:

1. Child Find, Evaluation, and ARD Supports

2. School, Family, and Community Engagement

3. Inclusive Services and Practices for Improved Student Outcomes

4. Support for Students Identified with Autism

5. Intervention Best Practices

6. Support for Students with Intensive Needs

7. Support for Students with Sensory Impairments

8. Support for Students in Small and Rural LEAs

9. Child-centered Transitions

10. Support for Students with Multiple Exceptionalities and Multiple Needs

Strategic Plan: Technical Assistance Networks

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